Welcome to the first 2022 edition of the Community Banker magazine. I trust the start of this new year finds you well and prospering. As we move into this new year, it is important to reflect upon all the challenges we have collectively faced over the last two years. But, it is also important not to let the negatives of 2020 and 2021 keep us from looking forward and recognizing all the positives in our lives.
As it is January and an even-numbered year, that means one thing — the start of candidates filing to run for the Montana legislature and other political offices. Candidate filing opened on Jan. 13, 2022. A complete list of those persons who have filed for public office can be found on the Montana Secretary of State’s website at app.mt.gov/filing. Please take time to determine who is running for office in your House and Senate districts. The MIB is always interested in hearing from our membership which candidates to support through the MIB PAC.
In addition to the state legislative seats up for election, as you are likely aware, due to the 2020 census, Montana regained a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Due to the addition of a congressional seat, Montana has been split into Eastern and Western Congressional Districts. Matt Rosendale, Montana’s current U.S. House member, has indicated he will run for election in the Eastern District. That means there will be a new and open race for Montana’s Western house seat.
This discussion of Montana’s congressional representation leads into a discussion of one of the most important activities undertaken by MIB on behalf of Montana’s community banks. That is legislative advocacy.
MIB supports candidates for office who understand the importance of community banking and “our” industry’s positive impact on main street businesses. As demonstrated by the unprecedented events of the last two years, community banks were at the forefront of connecting struggling businesses with federal pandemic relief programs. In addition, the MIB itself took the lead in successfully opposing the Biden Administration’s nomination of Saule Omarova to be the comptroller of the currency and in fighting the Administration’s draconian IRS bank account reporting proposal.
MIB’s member banks collectively express their support for community banking through our lobbying efforts and contributions from our political action committee – the MIB PAC. The contributions you make to the PAC are the lifeblood of our state legislative advocacy efforts. And as such, I strongly encourage you to contribute to the MIB PAC, so there are sufficient fiscal resources to effectively carry out those advocacy efforts on your behalf.
In addition, the MIB always welcomes your suggestions as to which candidates deserve the community banking industry’s support. You know your community as well as or better than we do. Thus, your input on the candidates helps us make sound decisions during the decision-making process.
Speaking of regulatory burdens and public advocacy efforts, during the last half of 2021, the MIB closely tracked the Biden Administration’s OSHA-issued Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that requires employers with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated or to test negative on a weekly basis. In late December, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision staying that OSHA TDS. The mandate was set to go back into effect in early January. However, fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court had the last word on this matter. On Jan. 13, 2022, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden Administration from further implementing and enforcing the ETS.
The ETS is another example of the challenges community bankers have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response. While the outcome of that litigation was ultimately out of “our” hands, Montana’s community banks can continue to control the positive manner in which you help your customers and communities. One industry that is well-positioned for a positive 2022 is the agriculture community.
In December, the MIB hosted an ag-lenders conference in Billings for members. The event garnered more than 25 attendees, and those who attended heard a great presentation from Dr. David Kohl. After more than five years of struggles, Dr. Kohl noted that ag prices are rebounding, and markets are improving. As such, Dr. Kohl advised MIB’s member banks to work with their agriculture customers now to get those balance sheets in order.
You may have seen that the MIB sent out its membership renewal notices in January. We strongly encourage you to renew your membership or, if you have not previously been a member, to join our association.
Legislative advocacy efforts are only one of several benefits you receive as a MIB member bank. Other benefits include this community banking trade magazine, a forum by which we provide coverage to MIB members of industry trends and developments, new and proposed legislation, regulatory issues, and association events and updates. In both hardcopy and electronic formats, our publication is sent to over 1,500 individuals and organizations involved in the community banking industry, and it is a great way to make your bank and its services known.
Another important benefit is discounted access to the Community Bankers for Compliance Program. We have included detailed information about that beneficial program in our membership renewal packets. And you can find more information online at mibonline.org/cbc-program/. Please contact the association if you have not received your membership renewal documents or would like more information about becoming a new member.
Finally, we encourage you to attend the ICBA National Convention & Tradeshow, held February 27th through March 3rd, 2022, in San Antonio. The MIB will be hosting its annual reception at the ICBA convention on the evening of Monday, February 28th. If you will be attending the upcoming convention, you are more than welcome to join your Montana community banking colleagues at the MIB reception, partaking in good food, good spirits, and good conversation.
I hope you enjoy this edition of The Community Banker. The MIB Board of Directors and the MIB staff are proud of the quality of this publication. And we thank those of you who continue to be members of the MIB and for all you do on behalf of the industry.
Best wishes for a fun and productive winter and spring.
Jim Brown,
MIB Executive Director
